Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Spirit

Spa Carnival, Gym, Salon Classique

Carnival’s over-the-top design team missed the mark here. With tacky murals of Greek athletes lining the walls and an auburn color scheme, the entire facility appeared retro in the worst way. Treatment rooms were cramped and dingy-looking and the salon felt like it was designed for Caesar’s Palace, circa Elvis’ last days.

The facility is managed for Carnival by Steiner Leisure, which oversees spas for a number of cruise lines. We signed up for the Fire and Ice manicure. While we found the 50-minute, $50 treatment competently handled and the arm massage with hot rocks relaxing, the “cooling gel” that was applied didn’t do enough to warrant the name. Overall, treatments seemed pricey to us: 50-minute facials ran $119-$169 and 50-minute massages were $119-$159, or $269 for the couple’s massage. As is typical on most ships, spa treatments (though not those at the salon) were discounted by 10 percent on port days. There were discounts for multiple treatments, and additional offers popped up on sea days.

Other procedures available included teeth whitening, acupuncture, Ionithermie, waxing and men’s grooming. The men’s and women’s changing areas have private sauna and steam rooms, which are open to those not signing up for a treatment.